With funding from the Tasmanian Government's Northern Gateway Improvements Program, the City of Launceston is delivering a major public artwork that welcomes people to the city.
Located at a key entry point, the artwork will celebrate what makes Launceston unique and create a memorable first impression for both visitors and locals.
The selected artwork, Sky Vessels, is now progressing through the final design and delivery stages. Installation is expected to be completed by October 2026.
This project is funded through the Tasmanian Government's Northern Gateway Improvements Program.
Katie Stackhouse was born and raised in Launceston. Her connection to the city and its surrounding landscapes continues to influence her artistic practice. In recent years, she has created works inspired by Tasmania's mountains and the Cataract Gorge.
Her works are held in private collections across Australia and internationally.
Sky Vessels re-imagines the living landscape surrounding Launceston with three abstract sculptures: vessels poised as if to catch water through clouds, rain and mist, connecting sky to earth.
Inspired by the three rivers - Plipatumila (South Esk River), Laykila (North Esk River), and Kanamaluka (Tamar Estuary) - Sky Vessels reflect the confluence of community, eras in time and references the boulders shaped into rock pools over millennia at Plipatumila (Duck Reach) and throughout the Cataract Gorge.
Sky Vessels rest on a river of stone, a reference to Launceston as a city shaped by the continuous flow of water and time. Stone symbolises deep strength and reflects Launceston’s excellence in stonemasonry, while serving as a poetic and conceptual representation of connection, flow, and the generosity of life for the City of Launceston.
Please note: the imagery presented is an artistic render of the proposed concept. Final artworks may differ slightly due to design development, engineering requirements and site-specific considerations.
The artwork will be installed on the Southern Outlet section of the Midland Highway, near the Pipeworks Road overpass. This prominent location is one of the main entry points into Launceston and is seen by thousands of people every day.
You can also view the site location and map below.
Click here to view the location on an interactive map.
You can also view the site location and map below.
The Northern Gateway project is designed to enhance a key entry point to Launceston and create a strong sense of arrival for residents and visitors.
The Southern Outlet was selected because it is one of the city's busiest gateways, carrying more than 19,000 inbound vehicle movements each day. As drivers reach the crest of the Southern Outlet, they experience their first panoramic view of Launceston, making it a significant and memorable arrival point.
The artwork will help celebrate Launceston's identity and create a distinctive welcome to Northern Tasmania.
Please note: the imagery presented is an artistic render of the proposed concept. Final artworks may differ slightly due to design development, engineering requirements and site-specific considerations.
Kanamaluka Kanalaritja evolved from the artist’s traditional cultural practice of shell necklace making. The shape reflects the necklace ready to be worn, using colour and textures to show the range of shells used in contemporary practice.
Sky Vessels re-imagines the living landscape surrounding Launceston with three abstract sculptures: vessels poised as if to catch water through clouds, rain and mist, connecting sky to earth.
The first round of engagement and expression of interest has concluded.
Through the first round of engagement, community were given the opportunity to leave a lasting mark on Launceston’s identity, whether they were an artist or a proud member of our community. Read below to see how they got involved!
Check out the Engagement Summary for what we heard during the first round of engagement!
Community were invited so share their feedback through the first round of engagement to guide the artist brief, ensuring the final artwork reflects Launceston’s character, stories and landscape.
Round 1 Engagement closed on Friday 13 June 2025.
Expressions of Interest (EOI) phase commenced in May to seek responses from artists to develop the public artwork for the Northern Gateway.
EOI submissions closed 5pm AEST on 6 June 2025.
Voting is closed.
As part of the second stage of the project, the community was invited to vote on two shortlisted artwork concepts:
The voting period was open for four weeks and attracted more than 1,000 votes, demonstrating strong community interest in the project.
Following the public vote, Sky Vessels by Katie Stackhouse was selected as the preferred concept, receiving 51% of votes, while Kanamaluka Kanalaritja by Lola Greeno received 49% of votes. The final result highlighted strong community support for both designs.
The community's preferred concept was subsequently endorsed by the City of Launceston, with Sky Vessels progressing to the final design and delivery stages.
As part of the second round of engagement, two community members who submitted an online vote for the Northern Gateway artwork have been randomly selected as prize winners. Each will receive a $100 grocery gift card. Congratulations!
Winners: A. Fontana and C. Hodolt
Thanks again to everyone who took the time to engage on this project.
Have questions or want to learn more about a project, contact us below:
| Phone | 03 6323 3000 |
|---|---|
| contactus@launceston.tas.gov.au | |
| Website | www.launceston.tas.gov.au |
